Biography: Queen Marie was born Marie Alexandra Victoria on October 29, 1875 in Kent, England. She was the daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and the former Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia. Marie was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and married Ferdinand of Romania in 1893. Marie, who became Queen of the Romanians in 1914, was popular among the Romanian public and served as a nurse during World War I. Queen Marie had six children of which Princess Ileana was fifth, being born in 1909. Queen Marie died in 1938.

Princess Ileana and her husband, Anton Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, also had six children with Stefan being the oldest. Princess Ileana moved to the United States after her deportation from the communist state of Romania. Divorcing Anton, she moved her family to Newton, Massachusetts and began a writing career and made several public appearances to support the family. Much of her writing reflected on her life in Romania and her mother. Princess Ileana entered the religious life in 1959 and founded the Monastery of the Transfiguration, an Orthodox convent located in Pennsylvania, in 1968. She eventually became known as Mother Alexandra. She died in 1991.

Scope and Content: The bulk of the Queen Marie of Romania papers date from 1918-1991 and contain correspondence, photograph albums, newspaper clippings, personal belongings and other miscellaneous items of Queen Marie and her daughter, Princess Ileana. This collection documents the Romanian royal family's personal and public activities during much of the 20th century including Queen Marie's involvement during World War I, her trip to the United States and Canada in 1926 and her death in 1938. It also documents Princess Ileana's activities during World War II, her exile from Romania and her church involvement. In addition, the collection contains literary pieces by Romanian authors and poets, literary journals, newspapers and books. The collection was donated in several installments, and at varying times by Queen Marie, Princess Ileana, Stefan Habsburg (the son of Ileana) and Ray Baker Harris. The collection was processed at the item level. Throughout the inventory Ileana is referred to as Princess Ileana rather than Mother Alexandra. Attempts have been made when possible to put in parenthesis the relationship of an individual to Princess Ileana or Queen Marie.

Statement of Arrangement: This collection has been divided into eight series. Series 1 includes correspondence of Queen Marie, documents related to Queen Marie, and materials collected by researchers Hector Bolitho and Ray Baker Harris memorializing and documenting Queen Marie's life. Series 2 contains correspondence of and documents related to Princess Ileana. Series 3 contains photographs, photograph albums and scrapbooks documenting Queen Marie, Princess Ileana and the Romanian royal family. Series 4 contains periodical clippings regarding Queen Marie, Princess Ileana and the Romanian royal family. Also included are published articles written by Queen Marie regarding her life and travels. Series 5 contains oversized material and includes correspondence, photographs, periodical clippings and framed images. Series 6 includes audio-visual materials related to the Romanian royal family. Series 7 contains objects related to the royal family. Series 8 includes literary pieces by Romanian authors and poets, literary journals, newspapers, books and microfilm.

Series 8: Romanian Literary Works

Preferred Citation: Queen Marie of Romania papers. Department of Special Collections and Archives. Kent State University Libraries and Media Services.

Separated Material: There are two large carved marble monuments in this collection. One of the marble monument is on exhibit in the 11th floor hallway. The second marble monument is located in storage in 11th floor back room. There is a carved marble portrait of Queen Marie, also located on the 11th floor.

Related Material: Further published information concerning Queen Marie of Romania can be found in KentLINK.

In 1926 Queen Marie visited America and Canada. A special page has been created to provide a chronology of her trip, some photographs and a map of her scheduled route. The information for this chronology was taken from On Tour With Queen Marie by Constance Lily Morris, who traveled with the Queen. All of the photographs are from the collection.

One of the Queen Marie photoalbums has been converted to digital images as a means of preserving the fragile pages. It is available for viewing. The individual pages of the scrapbook were scanned in their entirety to preserve the placement of the photos on the page and the Queen's own handwriting as she identified the photos.

Acquisition Information: The collection was donated in several installments by Queen Marie, Princess Ileana, Stefan Habsburg, Ray Baker Harris and others. Professor Glee Wilson a Kent State history professor has also made selected contributions to the collection over time.

Box 1

Subseries 1A: Correspondence and writings of Queen Marie

Correspondence of Queen Marie and personal documents written by Queen Marie. Material is organized chronologically. Research note: Correspondence relating to Queen Marie's friendship with the Huntington family is organized separately.

Document: Photograph of marble monument and typed transcript of its text, plea of Queen Marie to the U.S. and the reply of President Wilson: [1926] (Original marbles a donation of the family of Dr. J. Breckinridge Bayne, 1980) Research note: Original monument in the collection located in Series 7: Objects

Document: Photograph of marble monument and typed transcript of its text, an address to America from Henriette of Belgium: Address dated April 28, 1918, photograph and transcript: Undated (Original marbles a donation of the family of Dr. J. Breckinridge Bayne, 1980) Research note: Original monument in the collection located in Series 7: Objects

Correspondence: David Walden to Princess Ileana regarding a musical about Colonel Joe Boyle: March 19, 1990/With response from Princess Ileana: May 5, 1990

Box 1--Continued

Subseries 1E: Hector Bolitho material regarding Queen Marie

Hector Bolitho correspondence, documents and photographs. Hector Bolitho was friend of Queen Marie and an author of a number of royal biographies. In 1950 he published A Biographer's Notebook which included correspondence between Queen Marie and Ray Baker Harris. Material organized chronologically.

Correspondence: Four invitations to Hector Bolitho for Romanian royal receptions: January 23 and January 28 [1938] and November 16, 1938 (French)

Documents: Program and newspaper clipping regarding Mr. [Hector] Bolitho's visit to the King's Guard Regiment: January 25, 1938 and [Undated]

Document: Menu from the Kings Guard Regiment's Officers Mess, signed by members of the King's Guard: January 15, 1938 (Romania Scrapbook)

Correspondence: Frank Vaughan to Hector Bolitho regarding Vaughan's aunt who had been a nurse to Queen Marie's children: January 14, 1944

Correspondence and Transcript: Typed transcript of a chapter from Hector Bolitho's book, A Biographer's Notebook containing letters between Queen Marie and Ray Baker Harris with deletions made by Harris; Correspondence; Ray [Baker Harris] to Hector [Bolitho] regarding the book chapter: April 11 and May 16, 1949)

Subseries 1F: Ray Baker Harris material regarding Queen Marie

Ray Baker Harris publications, correspondence and documents. Harris was a friend and admirer of Queen Marie and published Collection Concerning Queen Marie of Roumania and the Roumania of 1866-1941 in 1942. The following includes correspondence Harris initiated with U.S. embassies and legations following Queen Marie's death, and includes Collection Concerning Queen Marie of Roumania and correspondence related to its publication.

Correspondence: Georges Enesco (musician and composer) to A. Dandelot concerning concerts in Spain: April 16, 1921 Research note: Collected by Ray Baker Harris. For additional Georges Enesco material see Subseries 2D: Correspondence between Princess Ileana and other relatives and friends.

Correspondence: Cordell Hull, Department of State, to John Z. Anderson, House of Representatives, regarding the travels of Queen Marie in the U.S. in 1926: November 7, 1939

Correspondence: Daniel Willard, President, The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. to John Z. Anderson, House of Representatives, regarding the travels of Queen Marie in the U.S. in 1926: November 10, 1939

Correspondence and Documents: Constantin Lazarescu to Princess Ileana regarding his imprisonment and requesting that she send accompanying doccuments to Melanie Anderson of International Amnesty: May 11, 1980; Documents relating to Constantin (Costica) Lazarescu's imprisonment by the Romanian government after World War II including sentencing and discharge papers and "Incheiere de Autentificare" (Conclusion of Legalization) document: 1950, 1963 and 1966 (photographic copies and photocopies) (Romanian)

Correspondence and Documents: Constantin Lazarescu to Princess Ileana regarding assistance with his pension and relating a story about an attempt to have Georges Enesco's body removed from a Paris cemetery: Undated; Miscellaneous documents relating to Lazarescu's efforts to secure a pension, his wife Mary Lazarescu's occupation as a translator, and his efforts to memorialize Georges Enesco: Miscellaneous dates

Document: Testimony of Chief Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, Kalasign of American, regarding his association with Romanian Royal family during World War I, [possibly Homer H. Ingersoll]: Undated and unsigned

Document: "Ordin de Serviciu" Romanian government document allowing Princess Ileana to travel to the war front: August 27, 1943 (photocopy) (Romanian)

Documents: Miscellaneous religious documents; "Duties of Deaconess of Russian Church by the Pre-Labor(?) Committee: Undated; Crossword Puzzle Book No. 1 for Young Orthodox Christians: October, 1977; Church booklet (?) (Romanian): April 22, 1984; Christmas Carols, booklet published by the John Hancock Life Insurance Co.; Miscellaneous cards and photograph: Undated

Document: American Romanian Academy Award presented to Princess Ileana by the American Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences: May, 1985

Box 2--Continued

Subseries 2H: Documents regarding publication of The Legend of Manole, a Romanian folktale

Correspondence: Micaela Eleutheriade to Mrs. Yvonne Chambers-Wright regarding assistance in finding an editor for The Story of Manole, written by Viorica [?] and illustrated by Micaela Eleutheriade: January 8, 1949

Correspondence and Document: Mrs. Donald Dunham to Mrs. Yvonne Chambers-Wright containing a handwritten copy of The Story of Manole; Customs declaration for watercolor illustrations: March 29, 1949

Documents: 24 watercolor illustrations for The Story of Manole, signed "E" [Micaela Eleutheriade]: Undated, [sent through Customs March 29, 1949] Research Note: See Oversized Material box for story cover and additional illustration

Manuscript: The Story of Manole, handwritten with notations regarding illustrations, 10 pages: Undated

Photographic postcards (2): Queen Marie, signed with notes, "The entry to my little old castle. Here I am standing in national dress at the step of the outer stone staircase which is much higher than you see it here." and "The stair up to Bran's front door": 1922 (Romania Scrapbook)

Photographs (2): Queen Marie; one signed "Bran, 1934" and "A happy New Year 1935!"; signed "Vahdah": 1934

Photographs (2): Queen Marie, signed, with accompanying caption, "Queen Marie of Roumania--Photograph taken at Balcic, on the Black Sea where the Queen has a private residence. In the background is the Byzantine style chapel which the Queen designed and had built on her grounds.": 1934 (La Morte de la Reine Marie Scrapbook)

Photographic Postcard: Queen Marie, signed with note, "Here I am sitting in the court-yard of my little castle which is called Bran (pronounced Brane), like the French ane.": Undated (Romania Scrapbook)

Photographs (2): Queen Marie, signed with notes "To add to the Roumanian Portfolio, At my window near the sea," and "In my favorite room at Balcic it is in fact the room of the very small house.": 1934

Photograph: Queen Marie with Grandson Peter, signed, caption, "Queen Marie leaving Ritz Hotel, Paris with her grandson, Peter of Yugoslavia, on the way to Belgrad after assassination of King Alexander.": 1934

Photographs (4): Children of Alexander and Marie of Yugoslavia and grandchild of Queen Marie; King Peter (3) and Tomislav: Undated

Box 4--Continued

La Morte de la Reine Marie scrapbook contains photographs and publications relating to Queen Marie's final illness (including sanatoriums she visited) and death. Research note: Contents of this scrapbook not related to the Queen Marie's death have been housed in other parts of the collection where noted.

Photograph: Goblets on table, note, "The jeweled goblets on the dining room table were to [unreadable] and marvelous. I took this [unreadable] photo.": Undated

Photographs (2): Unidentified individuals: Undated

Box 6--Flat box

Series 3H: Photograph Albums and Scrapbooks

Folder -- Contents

Balcic: Photograph Album: Contains photographs of Balcic, one of the residences of Queen Marie, located in southern Romania on the Black Sea and was a residence of Queen Marie. Presently Balcic is part of Bulgaria. The photographs are primarily of Princess Ileana, the royal family and naval personnel. There are also photographs of Sinaia from 1930: 1929-1930

Boxes 7 to 12--Flat Boxes

Series 3H: Photograph Albums and Scrapbooks

Empty photograph Albums: The photograph albums in Boxes 8 to 13 have had their contents removed and rehoused, however the physical albums have been retained. Researchers should refer to other parts of this collection for the album contents. The boxes listed below list each album and its previous contents. A few of the albums do contain some contents and these will be noted.

Box 7 Contents removed. Photoalbum: Balcic-Bran-Cotroceni: Bound in 3/4 brown morocco, with brown cloth slip-case: This contained photographs of the residences of the Romanian royal family.

Box 8 Contents removed. Photoalbum: Marie Queen of Roumania: Bound in 3/4 red morocco: This contained photographs of Queen Marie at different times from her childhood through 1938.

Box 9 Photographs removed and rehoused, but newspaper clippings intact. Photoalbum: La Morte de la Reine Marie-1938: This album presently contains major Romanian newspapers announcing the Queen's death and giving accounts of the funeral ceremonies. The newspapers were preserved using a now defunct process called "Broadman Process." The album also housed documentation from around the world regarding Marie's death, photographs and addition newspaper clippings from around the world. These items are in the collection inventory.

Box 11 Contents removed. Photoalbum: Princess Ileana: Bound in 3/4 blue morocco with blue cloth slip-case: Housed photographs of Princess Ileana, her Austrian home and children. There were also several photographs of Ileana with her mother, Queen Marie.

Box 12 Contents removed. Photoalbum: Romania: This album contained miscellaneous photographs of the royal family and the Romanian countryside.

Periodical Clipping: Supplement to The Illustrated London News, "The Rumanian Royal Family: A Personal Study of King Carol and Prince Michael": December 3, 1938 (photocopy) Research note: Originals are in Oversized Material: Periodical clippings and scrapbook pages

Subseries 5B: Oversized Material: Photographs and prints

Folder -- Contents

Photograph: Queen Marie, signed, inscribed "Wishing my dear friend Ray a very happy Xmas. This photo was taken at Balcic during the day when I was going about." matted: 1937 (Ray Baker Harris material)

Print on Silk: Chromolithograph on silk, "Rinaldo in the Garden of Armida, Replica of the Historic Fan reproduced by The Gentlewoman with gracious permission, from the original in the possession of Her Majesty Queen Mary."; Belonged to Queen Marie: Undated (Donated by Dominik Nicol)

Box 17--Flat box

Folder -- Contents

Book: Sweet Dreams by Carmen Sylva (Queen of Romania), includes a handwritten note by Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Queen Marie); Covered with an embroidered lavender and purple cloth: Copyright 1904 Research note: Extremely fragile, to be handled only with staff supervision.

Frame: Includes Royal Crown and Queen Marie's personal insignia: Undated

Folder -- Contents

11th Floor--Oversized Objects

Marble Monument: Inscribed with plea of Queen Marie to the U.S. and the reply of President Wilson; Monument given to Dr. J. Breckinridge during Queen Marie's visit to the United States, for his volunteer medical work in Romania during WWI: [1926] (Donation of the family of Dr. J. Breckinridge Bayne, 1980)

Marble Monument: Inscribed with an address to America from Henriette of Belgium; Monument given to Dr. J. Breckinridge for his "prominence in medical and Red Cross circles": Address dated April 28, 1918: Undated (Original marbles a donation of the family of Dr. J. Breckinridge Bayne, 1980)

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